Make it Bouny… In a Downpour
It started as a hot day in Manhattan as my friends and I grabbed lunch at Love, a Korean BBQ spot in Korea town (one of my favorites). Food was amazing and plentiful, and refueled us after the drive into the city and shopping on 32nd Street- something out of a Kpop fan’s wet dream. With our bellies full, bags heavy and bank accounts crying we headed to drop our stuff off and get refreshed before the show.
A not so bad subway ride from Port Authority to Citi Field in Queens left us feeling giddy as we spotted other ATINY getting on at each stop. Once off the train, the excitement buzzed in the air as we heard songs playing, saw people dancing, and freebies being handed out galore. ATINY zone proved to be the place to be, and most of us were able to trade within our group for everyone to secure their bias. The merch line was not as great but thankfully we bought a head online and in person at the pop up store that hit NYC a few days prior, so we didn’t have to worry about getting anything and were able to spend the few hours before the concert meeting others and getting the exclusive freebies.
Once it was time to form lines it became apparent that the weather might not hold out for us. And within another hour or so, the skies opened up and an absolute downpour started. More worried about the concert being canceled than our amazing outfits being ruined, we patiently waited in ponchos and under too small umbrellas for Citi Field to make the call. Eventually the rain proved to be so severe that more doors opened and everyone was rushed inside- an absolute mess of a time. Then the almost 2 hour wait where we didn’t know if the show would go on left most of us feeling anxious and worried….
But everything works out for us, and at 9:30pm ATEEZ hit the stage. I was most worried about them doing some dance move that would prove to be too much on the still wet stage (because let’s be real, KQ can ban jumping all they want but the boys do what their hearts tell them, and it’s usually something dumb) and someone getting hurt. By the stroke of luck everyone performed well and no one was injured! They were bummed the setlist got cut short and we could tell they were all upset for us fans, but Seonghwa gave a SUPER touching speech about loss of loved ones and moving on, and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
Overall, I can’t say I was unhappy. I was wet and cold by the end of the night but I sang and screamed and finally got to see some of my favorite songs performed live for the first time (and some for a repeat, only to be burned into my head for the rest of time… because Cyberpunk IYKYK).
1000000000/10 will always see them again! 8 makes 1 team!
